In two weeks, Bonhams will be hosting their annual Autumn auction at the Staffordshire County Showground. This year there are 539 lots – here are five of the oddest:
XR750 Tribute – 1983 Harley-Davidson XR1000
Post Listing Update: This XR did not get any interest at the BIN of $16,000. Following the success of the XR750 during the 70’s, notably thanks to Jay Springsteen, Harley-Davidson decided in the beginning of the 80’s to create a tribute bike to please the aficionados. The bike would be a blend between of XR750 character with some XLX Sportster …
Rare Project – 1942 Harley-Davidson XA
Post Sale Update: This XA sold for $33,544 after 6 bids on eBay. During World War II, the US Government asked HD to build a motorcycle similar to what BMW was making for the Germans – with shaft drive, boxer engine, and other features that made the bikes low maintenance. The Harley-Davidson XA was born. XA stands for eXperimental Army, …
1 of 17 – 1991 Moto Guzzi Le Mans 1000CI
The final version of the legendary Tonti-framed Le Mans, the 1000CI is also known as the 1000 Mark V NT (for New Type). Whatever you call it, it’s a rare find – the seller of this bike claims that the US only got 17 in 1991.
BikeEXIF Featured in France – Bad Winners’s 1991 Yamaha XT600
If you follow the modern customs scene, there’s a good chance you’re familiar with Bad Winners. The Paris-based shop churns out bespoke machines that are routinely featured on elite sites like BikeEXIF. The French outfit’s latest one-off two-wheeler is a 1991 Yamaha XT600E that’s been transformed into an urban supermoto toy.
Military Vehicle – 1999 Harley-Davidson MT500
Post Listing Update: This MT500 did not meet reserve despite 36 bids up to $5,101 in Costa Mesa, California. The seller relisted the bike with a BIN of $7,000 with no interest. The history of the MT500 is pretty unique. The bike actually finds its origins in Italy at the beginning of the 80’s with the brand SWM (Speedy Working …
Auction Preview – 2018 Bonhams at Barber Museum
View PostJapanese/Swedish – 1979 Yamaha HL500
Post Listing Update: This HL500 did not get any interest at the opening bid of $6,500 or the BIN. The HL500 finds its origins in the brand new XT500 that Yamaha released in 1975. Despite being overweight for enduro, the bike caught the attention of two Swedish motocross legends, Torsten Hallman and Sten Lundin. Both of them worked for Yamaha …
1978 Bultaco Metralla GTS
10-3-2018 Update: Over 3 years later, Bob K notes that this bike is back up for sale with a huge discount. Find it still in Colorado Springs, Colorado here on Craigslist for $4,500 (the previous asking price was $7,500). Post Listing Update: This Metralla did not get any interest at the BIN of $7,500. The GTS was the end of …
Guest Picture Intermission – Lake Hill Motors Motorcycle Museum
Neal Michal has been a long time friend of Bike-urious, and he kindly offered to share a tale of his recent visit to the Lake Hills Motorcycle Museum. Read on to see why it should be on your list of motorcycle temples to visit!
Street-Legal Factory Flat Tracker – 1977 Harley-Davidson XR750
Aside from a handful of championship titles sporadically earned by the big four from Japan, Harley-Davidson reigned supreme throughout the majority of American Flat Track history. While the MoCo obviously employed some top-notch pilots, its dominance in AFT can be largely attributed to H-D’s XR750. Introduced in 1970 as the successor to the venerable KR, Harley would successfully campaign the …
1978 Kawasaki KZ1000
The 60’s and 70’s were great decades of development for motorcycles, especially considering engine development. After Honda raised the bar with the CB750 at the end of the 60’s, Kawasaki had no other choice but to create a bike even more powerful. In 1972, the Z1, featuring a 900cc engine was released. Thanks to the development of the mighty 4-cylinder, …
2014 Moto Guzzi Norge GT 8V
Post Listing Update: The seller bumped up the BIN to $6,995 and this Guzzi did not sell. As a bike enthusiast, and a relatively young one at that, most of my knowledge is skewed toward the fuel-injected late model end of the spectrum. Admittedly, I have never seen a Moto Guzzi Norge GT. I don’t even recall seeing one on …
Factory Tourer – 1983 Yamaha Midnight Virago 920
Post Listing Update: This Midnight Virago did not get any interest at the opening bid of $2,500. It was relisted at $2,250 with the same result. In 1983, Yamaha offered a “Midnight Virago” that featured a black paint scheme with gold accents. They also offered a rare color-matched factory touring package with a fairing, saddlebags, and trunk for even more …
Press Release – Indian Motorcycle Unveils FTR 1200
After months of teasing, Indian finally announced the FTR 1200 (and the up-spec FTR 1200 S) today at INTERMOT. When I reviewed the Indian Scout and the Scout Bobber, I mentioned that I desperately wanted Indian to make a standard bike with the Scout drivetrain, and many commenters agreed. Well, here it is. What do you think?